Mole-trap



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r` el (No Model.)

J. W. REGBR 8v C. W; 8u G. vD. DENISON.

MOLE TRAP.

No. 563,310. Patented Julyv 7, 1896.

7n: nanars frans cn. pum u H UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB lV. REGER, CHARLES WV. DENISON, AND GEORGE D. DENISON, OF JUDSON, MISSOURI.

lvloLE-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 563,310, dated July 7, 1896.

Application iiled September 28, 1895. Serial No. 564,039. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that we, JACOB W. REGEE, CHARLES WV. DENIsoN, and GEORGE D. DEN- IsON, citizens of the United States, and residents of Judson, Sullivan county, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mole-Traps, of which the following speciiic-ation contains afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which- Figure l is a perspective of our trap as it appears when set; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view, but with the trap sprung. V-

The invention relates to that class of moletraps which have a spring-pressed follower provided with sharp prongs, which are driven through the animal.

The object of the invention is to providea trap of this class which will be cheap and durable in its construction and in which the vtrigger maybe set so as to be released by the slightest pressure.

The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and claimed.

A is the frame, formed of a strip of bar-iron bent into an inverted -U shape, with its vertical sides twisted so as to lie flatwise in the same plane. The lower ends of these vertical sides are connected above their pointed extremities a by a cross-piece A', provided with an aperture a' in its middle, and having its ends twisted, so as to lie flat against the frame to which they are riveted.

The top cross-bar A2 of the frame is provided at opposite sides of its middle with two apertures a2 a2, through which slide freely the vertical rods B B, to the lower ends of which is secured the follower O, having the long prongs or teeth C at both ends, and provided on its lower side with a cross-piece O2, having slotted or forked ends c2, which receive the edges of the vertical members of the frame, so yas to guide the follower in its up-and-down travel. Spiral springs B B encircle the guiderods B B, bear at their upper ends against cross-bar A2, and at their lower ends engage the upper side of the follower C.

The trigger mechanism consists in the trigger proper, D, formed of an angular or L- shaped piece of wire, having a coil d at its angle, through which passes the cross-bar e at the lower end of the U-shaped hanger E, depending from the top cross-bar A2 of the frame. This hanger E is formed of a piece of wire having its upper ends passed through two apertures in cross-bar A2 and'bent to form securing-eyes e', said hanger being also bent upon itself, as shown at c2, to hold the hanger rigidly in position beneath the cross-bar.

D is the trigger-rod, having an eye d at itsA lower end pivoting on the upper end of the vertically-adjustable bolt D2, the threaded ends of which pass through the follower and are providedwith adjusting-nuts. The trigger-rod D has an eye d2 on its upper end, which is passed over the short horizontal arm d3 of the trigger after the follower has been raised against the action of the springs B B. The .upper extremity of the long arm d4 of the trigger has a flattened or broad point, which engages a notch f in the lower side of a lateral arm F', projecting through the hanger E from the upper portion of the vertically-sliding trip-rod F, which slides freely through the apertures in the top and bottom cross-bars of the frame and an aperture in the center of the follower. The lower end of the trip-rod F is provided with an operating head or button F2. The lateral arm F is formed bybending the trip-rod upon itself, as clearly shown in the drawings.

When the springs B B are new and possess their full power, they do not require to be fully compressed in order :to drive the prongs or tines into the earth and through the animal, but as their force decreases they must be fully compressed, and this adjustment or action is eected by adjusting the trigger-rod D through the medium of thenshaped bolt or staple D2 (or an eyebolt) by means of its nuts or by simply bending its ends under the follower to a greater or less extent.

By adjusting the eye d2 of the trigger-rod nearer to or farther from the axis ofthe trigger, the latter will be released more or less readily.

When set, the trap is placed with its lower pointed ends at opposite sides of the runway and the trip-head will rest on the earth directly over the runway, which has been IOO pressed upon so that the mole in raising the pressed earth will press upwardly on the said head and cause its arm F to release the trigger, whereupon the springs will throw the follower down and cause its prongs or tines to pass into the runway and through the mole or other animal.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A mole-trap comprising the frame having vertical sides connected at their upper and near their lower ends by apertured crosspieces, the follower guided between said sides and having vertical rods extending up through the top cross-piece, spiral springs encircling said rods, a trigger at the upper end of the frame between the rods, a triggerrod connected at its lower end with the follower and having an eye at its upper end to receive the lower horizontal arm of the trigger, a vertically-sliding trip-rod extending through apertures in the cross-bars and followers having a lateral arm to engage the upper end of the trigger and hold it set and at its lower end extending between the lower ends of the frame for operation by the animal in passing thereunder, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the frame and the follower guided thereinV and provided with prongs or tines, of an angular trigger pivoted in the upper end of frame, a trigger-rod pivotally connected at its lower end with the follower and having an eye at its upper end to engage the horizontal arm of the trigger, and a vertically-sliding trip-rod having a ,lateral arm near its upper end provided with a notch on its lower side to engage the upper extremity of the trigger, the lower end of the triprod extending down between the lower ends of the frame for operation by the animal in passing under it, substantially as shown and described.

rlhe combination with the frame and the follower guided therein and provided with prongs or tines, of an angular trigger pivoted within upper end of frame, a trigger-rod pivoted adj ustably at its lower end to the follower to be lengthened or shortened and having an eye at its upper end to receive the lower horizontal arm of the trigger and a trip-rod sliding vertically in the frame and having a notched arm at its upper end to engage the upper end of the trigger and hold it set, the lower end of the trip-rod extending down between the lower ends of the frame for operation by the animal, substantially as described.

1.1L. The combination with the frame and the pronged or tined follower guided therein, of the trigger pivoted in the upper end of the frame, a vertically-adjustable staple or bolt on the follower, a trigger-rod pivoted thereto and having an eye at its upper end to pass over the lower horizontal arm of the trigger, and a vertically-sliding trip-rod having a notched arm at its upper end to engage the upper end of the trigger and hold it set, the lower end of the trigger-rod extending down between the lower ends of the frame for operation by the animal, substantially as described.

5. A mole-trap consisting of the n-shaped frame, the pronged or tined follower guided therein and having vertical guide-rods extending up through the top of the frame and encircled by spiral springs, the U -shaped hanger depending from the top of frame between the guide-rods, the angular trigger pivoting on the lower end of trigger, the triggerbar pivoted to the follower and having an eye at its upper end to receive the lower horizontal arm of the trigger, and the verticallysliding trip-rod having a notched lateral arm at its upper end projecting thi-eu gh the han ger to engage the upper end of the trigger and hold it set, the lower end of the trigger-arm extending down between the lower ends of its frame for operation by the animal, substantially as shown and described.

JACOB YV. REGER. CHARLES XV. DENISON. GEORGE l). YDENISON. ritnessesz Fnnnnie CALL, .Tol-IN W. CLArr. 

